Attention all divorce lawyers, cryptocurrency isn’t going away! Call it a pyramid scheme or a fad, but the fact remains that many divorce attorney’s clients are already knee-deep in cryptocurrency investments. Cryptocurrency investment within a marriage can be anything from a hobby of one partner, to a project shared by both partners to a secretive endeavor that can in the worst cases be used to hide money. There are so many issues to be tackled with cryptocurrency, from the purely financial ones – the difficulty of valuation for example – to the emotional and logistical (how can cryptocurrency be divided or cashed in? Can spouses even lay their hands on the passwords?) With the huge growth of cryptocurrency over the last year or two, Jonathan Fields delivered an extremely well-timed talk at the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ Annual Conference, entitled “Cryptocurrency: What Every Divorce Practitioner Should Know.”

Despite promises of decentralization bringing innovative transformation to all corners of society, many of blockchain’s anticipated disruptions have yet to materialise. One sector that has been disrupted, however, is law. The potential that bitcoin gives an individual to take ownership of their finances is creating cause for concern in the courts, where legal complications are on the rise from a range of bitcoin-related incidents.

In the UK, and all over the world, courts are seeing more and more cases relating to cryptocurrency. Speaking to Brave New Coin, British lawyer Vandana Chitroda said that her firm Royds Withy King has seen a huge rise of this “relatively new phenomenon” and has been in contact with people all around the world concerned about their spouses hiding crypto.

Bitcoins and other cryptocurrency (Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, etc.) are becoming increasingly popular and, more and more, at Fields and Dennis, we are seeing them with our divorcing clients and their spouses. Here is some information that every divorcing client should know about cryptocurrency and divorce.

Do I have to disclose my Bitcoins?

Yes. In a divorce you have a duty to disclose all of your assets on a Rule 401 Financial Statement and in responses to discovery. Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies are assets that need to be disclosed. If you are paid in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency, then you have to disclose this as well which may include reporting it as income on your financial statement.

Are Bitcoins part of the marital estate in divorce?

Yes, bitcoins and other cryptocurrency assets will be treated in the same way as any other investment. No matter whose name they are in, they are part of the marital estate and will be divisible just like any other asset.

What value do Bitcoins have in divorce?

Some cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, have an identifiable exchange rate with traditional currencies like USD but others don’t. So, those cryptocurrencies can be valued in the same way as a publicly traded stock is valued. As to cryptocurrencies that do not have an identifiable exchange rate, the attorneys at Fields and Dennis can assist in locating a financial expert who can assist in this valuation.

How does the IRS treat Bitcoins?

In 2014, the IRS issued a notice declaring that cryptocurrencies are property, not currencies like dollars or Euros. Often they are investment property akin to stock shares or real estate. So if an investor sells a cryptocurrency after holding it longer than a year, then the profits are typically long-term capital gains. The tax rate is 0% (on low incomes), 15%, or 20%. In addition, there might be a 3.8% surtax in some cases, depending on the owner’s total income. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did not change this. This levy takes effect at $250,000 of adjusted gross income for most married couples and $200,000 for most single filers.

Furthermore, using cryptocurrency to buy something is considered a sale by the buyer, even if the recipient accepts the cryptocurrency. Recipients of these payments often have taxable income as well. If a worker is paid in bitcoin, payroll or self-employment taxes could also be due.

It is easier to hide money in a cryptocurrency?

Transactions in a cryptocurrency which link to traditional currencies are traceable through the traditional currency bank account statements, or blockchain. Cryptocurrency transactions themselves are public but the users remain anonymous and cannot be traced without access to the currency holder’s ‘wallet.’ As there is no third party institution, like a bank, who can be relied upon to comply with orders for disclosure if needs be, there is no way to force disclosure of anonymous transactions short of hacking the user’s wallet.

However, hiding assets and lying to a court can trigger very serious consequences if it is later discovered.

Jonathan Fields was recently quoted in a Bloomberg Technology article on Bitcoin and Divorce

“It’s now a standard part of our discovery process,” Jonathan Fields, a partner at Fields and Dennis in Wellesley, Massachusetts, said in an interview. “I will make sure I’ve got the right language and questions to ensure a partner discloses their cryptocurrencies.”

Contact Us

Recent Posts

Compassion and Guidance Through the Attorney’s Eyes with Guest, Andrea E. DeLaney, Esq. Andrea specializes in family law and divorce, including child custody, child support, paternity, alimony and asset division. Together with Host, Cece Shatz on Going Solo with Cece Show, they chatted about the asset division process and various legal steps in divorce. WGSN-DB […]

A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LAWYERS by Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW For most of us, we have compartmentalized well our work/family life so that when we leave the office, well – we have left the office. Fast forward to stay-at-home orders. In order to carry on with our work lives, the boundaries have blurred […]

Terms make PPP loan program ‘no brainer’ for firms, experts say From Lawyers Weekly – Editor’s note: On April 16, the SBA announced that the PPP loan funding originally authorized by Congress had been exhausted and the agency would no longer be accepting PPP applications. A deal had yet to be reached by lawmakers to […]

Though the Boston market has been rocked by reports of BigLaw firms cutting pay and staff in response to the coronavirus emergency, pink slips seem to be few and far between for some smaller firms with niche practices. The public health emergency has kept Sheryl J. Dennis and five other attorneys at the Wellesley Hills […]